Archivist II - Audiovisual Archivist

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Under limited direction, processes archival collections and City of Austin records, provides reference services to the public, and provides public programs.

 

Job Description:

Archivist II

Purpose:

Under limited direction, this position processes archival collections and City of Austin records, provides reference services to the public, and provides public programs.

1. Appraises, organizes, processes, catalogs and conserves archival collections and materials.

2. Curates one or more of the collection units (Periodicals, Maps, Recordings, Photos, etc.) by making selection and acquisition decisions, processing and cataloging materials in that unit.

3. Compiles finding aids, reference guides, articles, statistics and reports

4. Provides archival reference and research services.

5. Assists with the acquisition and appraisal of collections by helping to determine whether the collection or acquisition is suitable for inclusion in the AHC collections; generally done under supervision of the AHC manager or a supervisor

6. Provides public liaison activities including lectures, media appearances and interviews.

7. Explains research policies and procedures, demonstrates research methods, explains the use of reference materials/equipment and explains fees to customers.

8. Coordinates and conducts meetings, training, tours, and public programs to the public and staff.

9. Assists in planning exhibits by organizing and interpreting historical records for public presentation.

10. May serve as the collections registrar by registering donations into the collection (this is an archives and museum function) and maintaining donor records]

11. Serves as ‘in-charge’ staff person in management’s absence.

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of archival and Encoded Archival Description standards, issues, practices, and trends.

• Knowledge of reference tools and procedures.

• Knowledge of records management issues and practices.

• Knowledge of digital imaging issues and trends, especially in regard to archival practice.

• Knowledge of electronic records management and preservation.

• Skill in processing/arranging archival collections.

• Skill in oral and written communication including presentation.

• Skill in organizing and interpreting historical records for public presentation.

• Skill in using computers and related software, including Microsoft Office products.

• Skill in prioritizing work assignments.

• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective relationships with City employees and the public.

• Ability to use and apply standards for archival description, cataloging, and networked resource sharing for archival objects and descriptions.

• Ability to appraise records for archival and/or historical significance.

• Ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Library or Information Science, or related to the assigned program from an ALA accredited university, with specialization in archival enterprise and/or administration, plus two (2) years professional experience working in an archives, library, museum, or other cultural heritage institution

• Master’s degree in History/Public History with coursework in archival administration, or a Master’s Degree in a related field, may substitute for the required Master’s degree in Library or Information Science.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with legacy audiovisual collections and playback equipment

• Experience troubleshooting to solve technical problems.

• Ability to determine preservation priorities and expertly perform preservation best practices for a wide range of analog audiovisual materials.

• Experience leading large-scale digitization projects, establishing and adhering to digitization workflows and file naming conventions, and knowledge of video codecs and best practices for encoding video files for preservation and access.

• Experience managing large sets of digital assets in a digital asset management system, ensuring files are organized and accessible, and experience creating metadata records for archival objects.

• Experience answering archival/historically-related reference questions from the public.

• Demonstrated commitment to implementing outreach activities highlighting Austin’s diverse communities.

• Demonstrated commitment to proactively promoting and embracing diversity in ideas, people, and organizations, and to contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.

• Ability to travel to more than one work location.

 

Notes to Candidate:

The Audiovisual Archivist manages the Austin History Center’s audiovisual collections across multiple formats, including videotape, motion picture film, audio recordings, and born‑digital materials. Responsibilities include acquiring, cataloging, digitizing, describing, and retrieving collection items, as well as preparing finding aids, reference guides, statistics, and reports. The role also requires operating and maintaining all related playback and transfer equipment, providing archival reference and reproduction services to internal and external users, and supporting outreach initiatives.

Work Location:

Austin History Center, 800 Guadalupe Street, 78701

Salary Range

$57,970.00 to $70,720.00

Hours and Schedule

Full-time (40 hours weekly) during the Austin History Center's hours of operation:

• Monday:  Friday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

• Saturday: 11:30 am – 5:30 pm

This position requires working weekends on a rotating basis, generally not more than 2 weekend days a month. Hours and work schedules are subject to change depending upon business needs. Schedules may vary to include holidays. 

To view the City of Austin recruitment video, please click here.

Benefits:

Working with the City of Austin provides a number of health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, training opportunities, and more. Please click HERE for more information.

Application Information:

• A detailed, complete COA employment application is REQUIRED. It helps us to better evaluate your qualifications and will be used to determine your salary if you are selected for this position. 

• Please be sure to provide a COMPLETE and detailed employment history, including all previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications. 

• For each position, please describe your specific experience as it relates to the minimum and preferred qualifications.  

• Incomplete applications will not be considered.  Note: A cover letter and/or resume will NOT be used to substitute for an incomplete job application.

• Please understand that your job application, cover letter, and resume will be used to measure or assess your written communication skills, including grammar, punctuation, and spelling, in helping us screen applications and determine candidates to be interviewed.

Additional Information:

• Travel: If you are selected for this position and meet the Driver Safety Standards in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program, you may drive when necessary to multiple locations as part of your regular job duties. Otherwise, you are responsible for getting to and from these locations.

• All new employees are required to attend City of Austin and Austin Public Library training as scheduled and should arrange their outside schedules to accommodate such training.

• This posting may be used to fill additional vacancies of the same job title that may become vacant (90-Day Provision). The additional vacancies may include a difference in work location, workweek hours, and schedule. Filling additional vacancies from this posting is based on the business needs of the department.

If Selected as a Top Candidate:

• Verification of the minimum qualifications (Master’s degree in Library or Information Science, or related to the assigned program from an ALA accredited university, with specialization in archival enterprise and/or administration, plus two (2) years professional experience working in an archives, library, museum, or other cultural heritage institution, or a Master’s degree in History/Public History with coursework in archival administration, or a Master’s Degree in a related field, may substitute for the required Master’s degree in Library or Information Science) will

Veteran:

• Veteran candidates will be required to provide a copy of their DD-214

Language:

• Must have the ability to read, write, and speak fluently in English.

Important Note to Applicants:

• The Austin Public Library reserves the right to close posted positions prior to the advertised close date, based on recruitment strategies and business needs.

• This posting may be used to fill additional vacancies of the same job title that may become vacant. The additional vacancies may include a difference in work location, workweek hours, and schedule. Filling additional vacancies from this posting is based on the business needs of the department.

Please be aware that the Job Posting Close Date reflects the final day to apply, but the posting will close at 11:59 PM the day before the date listed. All application steps, including attachments and submission, must be fully completed before that time.

We also recommend that you save or print a copy of the job posting for your records. Once a posting has closed, it will no longer be viewable in the system.

 

EEO Statement for City of Austin:

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.